Cassville Track and Field Invitational: Evaluating and comparing results
April 24, 2019
Lee Stubblefield
One of the great things about track and field is that there are no gray areas. Results are glaringly printed in black and white. Times, heights and distances. The watch and the tape don’t lie. That allows for absolute comparisons of performances, even at different venues, something that can’t be said for most other sports.
That is especially important as athletes head toward their district, sectional and state meets. Medals and accolades earned at invitationals may lose their luster when compared to other performances. That fourth place finish at one meet may well be a cut above the gold medal finish at another.
Coaches and athletes should spend a lot of time studying meet results, especially previous state meet results. While the exceptional few enter the record books with sensational performances, state results vary little from year to year. The names change but the results are remarkably similar. Even results from the cinder track days compare favorably with marks achieved on high tech surfaces with the best shoes, equipment and apparel available.
Success at any level should be applauded and recognized but with a realistic understanding of where that success fits in the big picture. While just getting to state is a great accomplishment, finishing in the top eight and earning a medal in the various events is always the goal.
Cassville Invitational
Both the Cassville boys and girls claimed second place team finishes at the annual Cassville Invitational on Tuesday, April 16, fighting the cold, the wind and good competition throughout the meet.
Cassville’s Jericho Ferris claimed third place in the boys 100 meter dash with an 11.80. Compare that to previous Class 3 results where medalists typically have to run 11.5 or better,
In the 200, Southwest’s Trevor Sneed took third in 24.30. The Trojans compete in Class 2 and eighth place at C2 state last year was 23.36. Sneed also placed third in the 400 at Cassville with a 53.90 run. That time would be on the edge of a state medal in Class 2.
None of the boys 800, 1600 or 3200 meter runners posted state quality times. The boys 3200 gold medalist David Lazalde, of McDonald County, ran exactly a minute slower than the Cassville meet record.
In the high hurdles, Cassville’s Drake Reese held off Southwest’s John Scannell, 16.53 to 16.69. But because of the difference in class, Scannell is closer to state medal contention.
None of the boys' relay teams were close to state medal marks, although Southwest’s 4x800 meter quartet ran a season’s best 8:54.90 in placing second behind McDonald County. The Trojans have a shot at qualifying for state in that relay.
The best boys field event performance of the night came in the pole vault where Zach Woods of McDonald County cleared 13-6. That’s a height that will medal at the Class 4 state meet.
In the girls, division, the Arnold sisters from Blue Eye flexed their Class 1 distance muscles in a state meet preview. Cassville’s Jordyn Stafford won a close battle with Riley Arnold in the 1600: 5:33.70 to 5:34.10. The two swapped positions in the 3200 though with Arnold winning in 12:04.50 to Stafford’s PR 12:13.90.
Avery Arnold won the 800 in 2:34.40 with Southwest’s Brylee Wilson third in 2:37.60.
Both Arnold sisters should reach state, and Riley will be one of the favorites in the C1 girls 3200.
Stafford, who placed 14th in the C4 1600 at state last year, should qualify in both distance events and be in medal contention in the 3200.
Wilson has a shot at a C3 state qualifying berth in the 800.
Cassville’s talented girls sprint corps has a tough road to the finals at state. The last C3 state medals in the girls 100, 200 and 400 last year saw times of 12.8, 26.2 and 1:01.7.
On Tuesday night, Kyren Postlewait ran a strong 12.6 into the wind for first place. Parker Marple won both the 200 and 400 meter events, running 27.7 and 1:04.40. Kennedy Parnell destroyed the field in the 300 meter hurdles with her 50.90 but will have to run under 50 seconds to claim a state medal.
Postlewait also has state hopes in the field events. She earned an all-state medal in the shot last year, taking fifth.. She won that event Tuesday with a heave of 40-0 and finished second in the long jump with a leap of 16-8.
Riley Morris won the discus Tuesday throwing 94-10 but has work to do if she is going to go to state.
The Lady Wildcats have a shot at going to state in the 4x100 meter relay, and a one second improvement could land them on the podium. One second. That’s like two great handoffs difference.
Cassville’s thinclads will compete at the Big 8 Conference Meet at Mt. Vernon on May 2 then head to the Class 3 District 6 meet at Hollister on May 11.
Southwest will participate in the SWCL Conference Meet for the first time on May 1 at Spokane then jump into Class 2 District 5 action at Sarcoxie on May 4.
Lee Stubblefield
One of the great things about track and field is that there are no gray areas. Results are glaringly printed in black and white. Times, heights and distances. The watch and the tape don’t lie. That allows for absolute comparisons of performances, even at different venues, something that can’t be said for most other sports.
That is especially important as athletes head toward their district, sectional and state meets. Medals and accolades earned at invitationals may lose their luster when compared to other performances. That fourth place finish at one meet may well be a cut above the gold medal finish at another.
Coaches and athletes should spend a lot of time studying meet results, especially previous state meet results. While the exceptional few enter the record books with sensational performances, state results vary little from year to year. The names change but the results are remarkably similar. Even results from the cinder track days compare favorably with marks achieved on high tech surfaces with the best shoes, equipment and apparel available.
Success at any level should be applauded and recognized but with a realistic understanding of where that success fits in the big picture. While just getting to state is a great accomplishment, finishing in the top eight and earning a medal in the various events is always the goal.
Cassville Invitational
Both the Cassville boys and girls claimed second place team finishes at the annual Cassville Invitational on Tuesday, April 16, fighting the cold, the wind and good competition throughout the meet.
Cassville’s Jericho Ferris claimed third place in the boys 100 meter dash with an 11.80. Compare that to previous Class 3 results where medalists typically have to run 11.5 or better,
In the 200, Southwest’s Trevor Sneed took third in 24.30. The Trojans compete in Class 2 and eighth place at C2 state last year was 23.36. Sneed also placed third in the 400 at Cassville with a 53.90 run. That time would be on the edge of a state medal in Class 2.
None of the boys 800, 1600 or 3200 meter runners posted state quality times. The boys 3200 gold medalist David Lazalde, of McDonald County, ran exactly a minute slower than the Cassville meet record.
In the high hurdles, Cassville’s Drake Reese held off Southwest’s John Scannell, 16.53 to 16.69. But because of the difference in class, Scannell is closer to state medal contention.
None of the boys' relay teams were close to state medal marks, although Southwest’s 4x800 meter quartet ran a season’s best 8:54.90 in placing second behind McDonald County. The Trojans have a shot at qualifying for state in that relay.
The best boys field event performance of the night came in the pole vault where Zach Woods of McDonald County cleared 13-6. That’s a height that will medal at the Class 4 state meet.
In the girls, division, the Arnold sisters from Blue Eye flexed their Class 1 distance muscles in a state meet preview. Cassville’s Jordyn Stafford won a close battle with Riley Arnold in the 1600: 5:33.70 to 5:34.10. The two swapped positions in the 3200 though with Arnold winning in 12:04.50 to Stafford’s PR 12:13.90.
Avery Arnold won the 800 in 2:34.40 with Southwest’s Brylee Wilson third in 2:37.60.
Both Arnold sisters should reach state, and Riley will be one of the favorites in the C1 girls 3200.
Stafford, who placed 14th in the C4 1600 at state last year, should qualify in both distance events and be in medal contention in the 3200.
Wilson has a shot at a C3 state qualifying berth in the 800.
Cassville’s talented girls sprint corps has a tough road to the finals at state. The last C3 state medals in the girls 100, 200 and 400 last year saw times of 12.8, 26.2 and 1:01.7.
On Tuesday night, Kyren Postlewait ran a strong 12.6 into the wind for first place. Parker Marple won both the 200 and 400 meter events, running 27.7 and 1:04.40. Kennedy Parnell destroyed the field in the 300 meter hurdles with her 50.90 but will have to run under 50 seconds to claim a state medal.
Postlewait also has state hopes in the field events. She earned an all-state medal in the shot last year, taking fifth.. She won that event Tuesday with a heave of 40-0 and finished second in the long jump with a leap of 16-8.
Riley Morris won the discus Tuesday throwing 94-10 but has work to do if she is going to go to state.
The Lady Wildcats have a shot at going to state in the 4x100 meter relay, and a one second improvement could land them on the podium. One second. That’s like two great handoffs difference.
Cassville’s thinclads will compete at the Big 8 Conference Meet at Mt. Vernon on May 2 then head to the Class 3 District 6 meet at Hollister on May 11.
Southwest will participate in the SWCL Conference Meet for the first time on May 1 at Spokane then jump into Class 2 District 5 action at Sarcoxie on May 4.